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Vol.64/No.1      January 10, 2000 
 
 
China takes back Macao  
 
 
Photo-see caption below Photo-see caption below 
Above, women from Macao practice fan dance planned as part of December 20 celebration of the nation's reunification with China and end of Portuguese colonial rule. Portuguese governor, Gen. Vasco Rocha Vieira, at right, clutched the Portuguese flag.  
 
 
BY MAURICE WILLIAMS 
Fireworks and other festivities in Macao highlighted the December 20 ceremony celebrating that country's return to China. Beijing claimed sovereignty over the territory marking the end of 442 years of Portuguese colonial rule. By midday thousands cheered some 500 Chinese soldiers who marched into Macao.

The event was another step toward the reunification of all of China, including Taiwan. Hong Kong, the former British colony, was handed over in July 1997. Macao will be joined with the 1.2 billion people on China's mainland.

With the return of Macao, said Chinese president Jiang Zemin, "the great endeavor of reunifying China will take a big step forward. Under these circumstances, the task of resolving the Taiwan issue [will] appear increasingly urgent."  
 
 
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